by
Barbara Kram, Editor | August 27, 2008
-The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 includes improvements to the Medicare competitive bidding program for home medical equipment that will help to ensure that seniors and people with disabilities continue to have access to quality medical equipment and services at home.
-The law saves Medicare billions of dollars in reduced payments for home medical equipment. While the legislation delays the Medicare bidding program, the home medical equipment industry pays for the delay in the form of a 9.5 percent nationwide reimbursement reduction for items and services subject to bidding. This reimbursement cut saves taxpayers the billions of dollars that the flawed program would have saved. So taxpayers win through reduced Medicare spending, and beneficiaries win because they will continue to receive quality care from their local providers.
-The bidding system has been fraught with problems that have confused seniors, threatened severe reductions to care, and unfairly disqualified hundreds of accredited homecare providers. In cities where competitive bidding was implemented, the process befuddled hospital discharge personnel to the point where patients were being forced to stay longer in hospitals while frantic efforts were underway to locate the hospital beds, power wheelchairs, home oxygen equipment, and other equipment and services needed for patients to continue their recovery and therapy in their homes.
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For more information, visit the Newsroom at www.aahomecare.org.
The American Association for Homecare represents durable medical equipment providers, manufacturers, and other organizations in the homecare community. Members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require oxygen equipment and therapy, mobility assistive technologies, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other medical equipment and services in their homes. The Association's members operate more than 3,000
homecare locations in all 50 states. Visit www.aahomecare.org.
American Association for Homecare, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 725, Arlington, VA 22202, 703-836-6263, www.aahomecare.org
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